goodmorningpapua.com – It is difficult to know the exact number of members of the Armed Criminal Group or KKB in Papua. Even, not a few members who were arrested by the authorities. Countless also died in the crossfire.
A National Police Headquarters had stated that the number of KKB members was around 150 people. Likely the number of members and their sympathizers is greater than the police estimates. They are scattered in various regions. From BNPT data, there is the Yambi Group led by Lekagak Telenggen. Located in the Puncak Ilaga Regency area.
In the Puncak Jaya district, there are two groups. Namely the Tingginambut Group led by Goliat Tabuni and the Gome Group, led by the Murib Military and Peni Murib. The Lani Jaya group is led by Purom Okiman Wonda.
There is also the Ndugama Group led by Egianus Kogoya. Settled in the Nduga Regency area. The Tembagapura group, led by Ayub Waker and Sabinus Waker. They are in Mimika Regency and Intan Jaya Group, Intan Jaya Regency. And the Kali Kopi group was led by Joni Botak. Located in Mimika Regency.
“They are members of the bandit community not having a job,” said former Papuan Police Chief Komjen (Ret.) Paulus Waterpauw while talking to merdeka.com, last week.
So far they have lived in herd, by becoming an inhabitant of mountains and forests. Away from civilization. Paul Waterpauw confessed, they live from the proceeds of crime. It’s like a culture passed down from generation to generation in KKB.
Paul explains, the young KKB saw the experiences of their seniors. They show how to earn money by means of violence. They just rob and plunder other people. They even confiscated weapons from the security forces. That’s why they can hold weapons. By weapons they have, they returned to extortion for money.
“They enjoy life in that way,” he said.
Most of the KKB members entering their old age have returned to the arms of the Republic of Indonesia. Back to society. They do positive activities. While the rest in KKB at this time, the average age is young.
“Most of them are young people. Maybe they just joined in,” said Danrem 173/PVB, Brigadier General Taufan Gestoro.
This group regenerates. Recruiting new members and investigators. Targeting youth, by forming the youth groups in the community. Then providing sufficient facilities for the stomach, even giving a budget. According to Paulus Waterpauw’s analysis, they design conditions to attract the sympathy of the youth.
“That’s the continuity,” he said.
The other design from the political side. They continue to try to maintain the existence of the separatist group by entering the government circle. “By winning the village election, Regent.,and so on.”
The bandit behavior which has become a culture and has been passed down from generation to generation, cannot be resolved by the security forces. Instead, it absolutely need the intervention of policy makersm namely the government. The youth groups should be avoided from the possibility of being involved in KKB.
Including that if any of them having kinship with sympathizers or members of KKB, they must be freed from terror and discrimination due to the actions of their relatives.
“Because these violent groups have lived a cruel life, too hard and too long,” said Paulus, who now serves as the Deputy for Management of Potential Border Areas at BNPP.
For eradicating KKB, there are three layers to be considered to be cleaned up. The first is the KKB members themselves. The next is sympathizers. “The third is donors. For the latter, we cannot enter, because it is also in the scheme of bureaucrats,” said a Military Observer Padjadjaran University, Muradi.
President Jokowi’s orders regarding the Papua conflict are clear, namely by means of the welfare approach. Yet, it is not forgetting proportional legal action for violations of humanity.
“Likewise, the direction of the TNI commander is also clear about the new security policy in Papua using a territorial and social approach,” said Deputy V KSP for Polkuham Jaleswari Pramodhawardani.
The Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Andika Perkasa, has given orders for prioritizing communication in overcoming the Papua conflict. So far based on experiences, the conflict resolution with a violent or weapon approach does not solve the problem. Instead, it adds to the long list of victims on both sides.
“We will try it in a humanistic way, put forward human values, that’s all,” said Danrem 173/PVB, Brigadier General Taufan Gestoro.
Jaleswari continued, the Papua conflict and the existence of the KKB in it cannot be seen as partial, homogeneous and generalizes all matters. Moreover, talking about Papua with its unique geographical conditions, tribes and customary territories. Conflict resolution is unlike other regional approaches.
A military observer Muradi assessed that the soft power approach of the era of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had not touched the root of the conflict in Papua. Building the heart of the Papuan people’s mind to remain the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. This approach is not optimal yet.
“Making relations with Papuans will never end, because the expression of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia with the fixed price is more a slogan, not invoking to heart,” concluded Muradi.
Authors: Wilfridus Setu Embu, Nur Habibie, Richard Jackson, Henny Rachma Sari (mdk/noe)